I know the activity on the board is down even though we have more and more new people signing up. It seems like a lot of them never make that first post...

I thought maybe if we all told a little bit about our self and our dogs, some of the newer people might see we are a pretty friendly group and might join in.

I live in North Florida with my husband and a whole bunch of dogs!

LOL

Most of my dogs are trained in Personal Protection but right now I am concentrating on tracking and ob with the younger ones.

I enjoy tracking there is just something about watching a dog figure out a problem that I like.

I've met a lot of people from this board that I'm really happy to call my friend.

Good idea, Betty!

I'm a dog nut living in the city--in St. Louis, MO. I've got a pack of five (photo of the hooligans below) who enjoy a weekly agility class, occasional agility trials, and mostly just learning to be happy, well-mannered family companions. One of my dogs (Jack) is the "office dog" where I work. He visits on Fridays and enjoys the attention, and my co-workers enjoy having him around.

I'm a hands-on kind of owner who enjoys making my own raw dog food, doing all my own grooming (even the poodle!) and training. When we go for walks in the city we pretty much stop traffic. Most people don't seem to understand how five dogs can walk nicely together on leash, so we're happy to be ambassadors for how well-behaved dogs are supposed to act in public.

I enjoy this board a lot and love learning new things, and sharing what I can with other pet dog owners. Oh, and I keep chickens too!

I never did a formal intro so here's my story.

I found Leerburg about 2 years ago when I first got my unexpected lab pup. I was having serious issues with his aggression and had to do a lot of research and training to get him where he is today. Like a few of you mentioned, I too read the board for about a year before signing up and posting.

In my past, I've always had well behaved dogs, and it's been a whole new experience having a dog I have to train. Needless to say it's brought me down paths I never knew existed! but it's been a fun ride. We live in the San Francisco bay area and are lucky to train with a few of the coveted trainers Leerburg endorses. Thank goodness, because who knows where we'd be today. Enzo is quite a dog. For a lab.

I agree, great idea, Betty! I live in southeastern Michigan with my husband, two dogs and one horse. I currently have Dobermans, but I have an appreciation and admiration for many breeds.

I have always believed in the importance of training my dogs to be well-mannered both at home and in public. In addition, in the last several years, I've developed an interest in competition and have been training and trialing in rally and obedience. Honestly, though, the thing that brings me the most pleasure when it comes to my dogs is just their companionship, having them keep me company while I work (home office), or sharing the bed with me in the evening while I watch TV or read, or going for a long walk in a beautiful place on a beautiful day.

Dogs are one of the enduring passions of my life, and I feel that learning about dog training, nutrition, health, behavior, etc. is an ongoing process. This site has been a wonderful resource.

I hope we'll hear from some of the new members. The first couple posts are always the hardest, but we've all been there!

I live in Georgia with three cats (Sophie, Angel, and Daisy) and a senior Chocolate Labrador named Gunner. I'm 17 and just really starting to learn about dogs and prepare for my future puppy. I am thinking about a Beauceron. This is a great site to learn about anything related to dogs and get quality supplies!

I'm in the US Army, currently living in Hawaii. My family is back home in Ohio, and includes my lovely wife Pam, 2 grown sons, Emma the 2 year old granddaughter, and Pud the pit / lab mix. They are awaiting my return, which should be this spring.

I am a working dog handler and trainer in the Army. I just recently redeployed from Afghanistan where I spent a year finding explosives with my TEDD partner Fama, a 4 year old GSD.

I love this board and the people who congregate here. There is a wealth of information at your fingertips, and a helping hand is only ever a post away.

I never did an introduction either, I was used to gladiatorial dog forums where I felt it was keep it business like and serious!

This is only one of two forums I use now, and though I will probably never meet any of you guys, it is one place that feels like 'family', and all the laughter and tears that go with that institution

I live in the UK with my daughter, (though she is moving out in the late summer to go to University - that leaves me on my Jack Jones with my four dogs - two English Pointers, Hoots and Bon, and my two bonkers Boerboels, Sugar and Kaiser; they are the loves of my life, and having done the marriage, (and divorce!) thing twice, I am going to stick with the company of dogs, as I have yet to meet a chap I could love more LOL!

I have been registered on this forum for a couple of years, and I respect and really like the wealth of experience, and the free advice that it given genuinely, passionately and with the welfare of the dog at the centre of the stage.

Anyone browsing the site, and thinking it can be a scary place on occasion, don't think it is about being 'judgmental' or hostile, it is, quite simply, the best dog forum out there in www land, and while you may not get your answers in a soothing tone full of hugs and love, what you will get, is invaluable no nonsense advice, real knowledge of all things canine, and some real friendship and support

Central New York. 4 GSDs - three 'rescues.'

Any number of fosters over the years. All an interesting trip. All placed in excellent homes. Proud of that.

The bride is extraordinarily accepting. I mean, how many would open their home to strange dogs over and over and over again.

Like to take a dog and get it ready for a good life with a searching owner. But I think our fostering days are almost over, for any number of reasonable reasons.

Had GSDs for 40 years. Raised four children around them, and I think the experience was good for them - child and dog.

I have come to think the problem with most dogs is the owner. I like to think some dog owners should have cats - no offense intended toward cats.

The four mutts are in various resting poses around me as I type. If I could figure out how to load a picture I would but, alas, I am a maladroit when it comes to successfully following simple computer protocols.

Need coffee. I am easily led.

Hello, I'm one of the new members who haven't posted yet. Lurked for a year or so - too green to have anything to offer and haven't had a question I couldn't solve with a search (yet). Love this place - have learned a ton here.

Anyways, married, no kids (yet), dog and 2 cats, live in Arlington, Tx and work as a Paramedic in Fort Worth. My boy's name is Chief, he's mostly West German Working, 1/4 Czech and a sprinkling of DDR. He's 10 weeks old and a great little guy. I've wanted a GSD for years, but we wanted to get a house first (yes, the recent purchase of our first home was a means to an end for me - the family joke is that Chief was a $130,000 dog).

He'll be a family pet and we'll at least do tracking - anything further depends on several other variables in life. Because of this site he'll be raised the pack structure/marker training/NILIF way.

Thanks to everybody here for all the questions asked and advice given over the years that I've quietly benefited from.